James Weldon Johnson Quotes

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  • The colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them.

    Country   White   People  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.10, Courier Corporation
  • I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse whatever for slowly burning to death a human being, or for tolerating such an act, can be entrusted with the salvation of a race.

    Race   People   Burning  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.352, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest.

    Play   Piano   Height  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.111, Courier Corporation
  • I found cause to wonder upon what ground the English accuse Americans of corrupting the language by introducing slang words. I think I heard more and more different kinds of slang during my few weeks' stay in London than in my whole "tenderloin" life in New York. But I suppose the English feel that the language is theirs, and that they may do with it as they please without at the same time allowing that privilege to others.

    New York   Thinking   May  
    James Weldon Johnson (2011). “The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson”, p.163, Modern Library
  • And Satan smiled, stretched out his hand, and said, "O War, of all the scourges of humanity, I crown you chief.

    War   Hands   Humanity  
    James Weldon Johnson (2009). “Fifty years and Other Poems (EasyRead Large Edition)”, p.44, ReadHowYouWant.com
  • Americans are immensely popular in Paris; and this is not due solely to the fact that they spend lots of money there, for they spend just as much or more in London, and in the latter city they are merely tolerated because they do spend.

    Cities   Paris   London  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.63, Courier Corporation
  • Southern white people despise the Negro as a race, and will do nothing to aid in his elevation as such; but for certain individuals they have a strong affection, and are helpful to them in many ways.

    Strong   Race   White  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.80, Courier Corporation
  • Nothing great or enduring, especially in music, has ever sprung full-fledged and unprecedented from the brain of any master; the best he gives to the world he gathers from the hearts of the people, and runs it through the alembic of his genius.

    Music   Running   Heart  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.315, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred dollars ahead, and at other times I had to borrow money from my fellow workmen to settle my room rent and pay for my meals.

    Gambling   Luck   Meals  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.67, Courier Corporation
  • And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and my school books.

    Couple   Book   School  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.4, Courier Corporation
  • My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman helping her.

    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.11, Courier Corporation
  • The Southern whites are in many respects a great people. Looked at from a certain point of view, they are picturesque. If one will put oneself in a romantic frame of mind, one can admire their notions of chivalry and bravery and justice.

    Romantic   Views   People  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.352, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • Through my music teaching and my not absolutely irregular attendance at church, I became acquainted with the best class of colored people in Jacksonville.

    Teaching   Class   People  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.304, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • It is strange how in some things honest people can be dishonest without the slightest compunction.

    People   Strange   Honest  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.284, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • The battle was first waged over the right of the Negro to be classed as a human being with a soul; later, as to whether he had sufficient intellect to master even the rudiments of learning; and today it is being fought out over his social recognition.

    Soul   Battle   Today  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.304, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience.

    Song   Religious   Heart  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.349, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • Some men enjoy the constant strife Of days with work and worry rife, But that is not my dream of life: I think such men are crazy. For me, a life with worries few, A job of nothing much to do, Just pelf enough to see me through: I fear that I am lazy.

    Dream   Jobs   Crazy  
    James Weldon Johnson (2000). “Complete Poems”, p.131, Penguin
  • Amsterdam was a great surprise to me. I had always thought of Venice as the city of canals; it had never entered my mind that I should find similar conditions in a Dutch town.

    Cities   Venice   Mind  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.331, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves.

    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.13, Courier Corporation
  • As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs.

    Song   Appreciate   Slave  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.349, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • When we arrived in London, my sadness at leaving Paris was turned into despair. After my long stay in the French capital, huge, ponderous, massive London seemed to me as ugly a thing as man could contrive to make.

    Sadness   Men   Paris  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.79, Courier Corporation
  • Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much.

    Strong   Boys   Voice  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.18, Courier Corporation
  • Every race and every nation should be judged by the best it has been able to produce, not by the worst.

    Race   Able   Should  
    James Weldon Johnson (2011). “The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson”, p.174, Modern Library
  • The fortress inspired a tremendous confidence. It was the only propeller driven aircraft I have flown that was completely viceless; there were no undesirable flight characteristics. The directional stability was excellent and, properly trimmed, the B-17 could be taken off, landed and banked without change of trim.

    Taken   Aviation   Flight  
  • The peculiar fascination which the South held over my imagination and my limited capital decided me in favor of Atlanta University; so about the last of September I bade farewell to the friends and scenes of my boyhood and boarded a train for the South.

    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.34, Courier Corporation
  • There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.

    Thinking   Cake   People  
    James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.40, Courier Corporation
  • Make yourself as happy as possible, and try to make those happy whose lives come in touch with yours. But to attempt to right the wrongs and cease the sufferings of the world in general is a waste of effort.

  • A great wave of humiliation and shame swept over me. Shame that I belonged to a race that could be so dealt with; and shame for my country, that it, the great example of democracy to the world, should be the only civilized, if not the only state on earth, where a human being would be burned alive.

    Country   Race   Lynching  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.352, Oxford University Press on Demand
  • ...one of the best things about running is that no matter how fast you've run in the past, running fast in the future does not come easily or with any guarantees.

    Running   Past   Doe  
  • At a very early age I began to thump on the piano alone, and it was not long before I was able to pick out a few tunes? I also learned the names of the notes in both clefs, but I preferred not be hampered by notes.

    Music   Names   Piano  
    James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.276, Oxford University Press on Demand
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James Weldon Johnson quotes about: Country Earth Justice Music